United States International Relations

News about United States International Relations, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Feb. 25, 2015

Republican contenders for 2016 presidential nomination are quickly shifting positions on foreign policy, responding to public anxiety over Islamic State, terrorist attacks in Europe and tension with Russia; many potential nominees are coming to favor more restrained foreign policy approach. MORE

Feb. 20, 2015

United States announces expansion of air-quality monitoring at some diplomatic missions overseas, which it has done for years in China; purpose of expansion is to spread awareness of outdoor air pollution and potential health risks, as well as fact that such pollution spreads across national borders. MORE

Feb. 8, 2015

Ross Douthat Op-Ed column traces Pres Obama's focus on America's past sins to insight from theologian Reinhold Niebuhr, who noted that no society is innocent, most recent example of which was Obama saying that religious violence is not limited to Islam; considers limits of this approach, particularly with respect to foreign policy. MORE

Feb. 6, 2015

Deep policy and political divisions between Pres Obama and New Jersey Sen Robert Menendez, top Democrat on Foreign Relations Committee, have burst into public view; Menendez, whose position would otherwise make him key advocate for administration policy, has sharply questioned Obama's stance on Cuba and Iran. MORE

Jan. 30, 2015

White House Memo; First Lady Michelle Obama sparks chatter after she is photographed without any head covering in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Obama's attire was actually in keeping with longstanding custom for first ladies in the Muslim kingdom, and is part of a complex clothing protocol that first ladies must navigate while abroad. MORE

Jan. 30, 2015

Op-Ed article by Vice Pres Joseph R Biden Jr holds that tremendous problems facing El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras can be addressed given sustained effort that has been forthcoming from their leaders and help from United States; contends America's fortunes are linked to those of South America, ignoring their problems brings them to US doorstep; urges Congress to approve $1 billion Pres Obama has requested to make reforms in South America, saying failure to do so will cost far more. MORE

Jan. 20, 2015

United States backs two initiatives, one from the United Nations and one from Russia, that aim to ameliorate Syria's civil war; move highlights how US has quietly pulled away from demand that Bashar al-Assad step down immediately, particularly in face of growing threat from Islamic State, and is supporting more gradual change proposed by international diplomatic teams. MORE

Dec. 26, 2014

Paul Krugman Op-Ed column looks back on year and suggests that number of major government policies worked well, despite much talk about how United States government seemed clueless; notes how Ebola virus was handled, success of health care reform law's first year and way US foreign policy has succeeded as examples of government doing well in 2014. MORE

Dec. 19, 2014

Diplomatic Memo; three of Pres Obama's diplomatic achievements--reestablishing ties with Cuba; interim nuclear agreement with Iran; and climate-change pact with China--resulted from negotiations; not since 1971 has a president embraced undercover diplomacy with such enthusiasm. MORE

Dec. 19, 2014

News analysis; Communist nations of Cuba and North Korea are posing two different challenges for Pres Obama; holds that while Cuba is newest experiment in integration, North Korea is escalating confrontation with United States in innovative way with easily deniable cyberwarfare. MORE

Dec. 18, 2014

Normalization of diplomatic relations with Cuba after more than 50 years of enmity would leave only North Korea on America’s Cold War blacklist, and only Iran, Sudan and Syria as countries regarded by United States government as pariah states that sponsor terrorism; political historians compare restorative steps with Cuba to those taken to repair relations with China and Vietnam. MORE

Dec. 15, 2014

Sec of State John Kerry travels to Rome to hold difficult meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, as well as the foreign ministers of Russia, France, Britain and Germany; will face arduous task as Europeans press for a United Nations Security Council resolution on Middle East negotiating deadline that is opposed by Israel; will also attempt to de-escalate tensions in Ukraine, without confronting Russia militarily or providing Ukraine with lethal military aid. MORE

Dec. 12, 2014

American officials attending global climate change negotiations in Peru are getting enthusiastic reception; many international negotiators say historic deal between China and United States to commit to cut their emissions could be catalyst for new global accord on climate change. MORE

Dec. 5, 2014

New Jersey Gov Chris Christie visits Canada to lend his support to Keystone XL Pipeline; he is formulating foreign policy platform focusing on North America as he ponders 2016 presidential run. MORE

Dec. 3, 2014

Thomas L Friedman Op-Ed column recommends David Rothkopf book National Insecurity: American Leadership in an Age of Fear, which examines how events of September 11, 2001, transformed American foreign policy for the worse; laments amount of energy and resources spent on preventing unlikely terrorist attacks rather than on rethinking and investing in innovations that will make America more resilient. MORE

Nov. 19, 2014

Thomas L Friedman Op-Ed column considers role Dubai and United Arab Emirates played in Arab awakening; argues that, despite being absolute monarchies, the two served as example of modernity to young Arabs across Middle East; holds best American policy in Middle East is one, based on containment, that simply amplifies any such spark of legitimacy and coherence in a body politic. MORE

Nov. 16, 2014

Diplomatic Memo; Pres Obama's latest trip to Asia and Philippines exemplifies accomplishments not seen on his previous trips to Far East; he leaves with landmark climate-change agreement and trade deals with China, progress on Trans-Pacific Partnership and $3 billion climate-change pledge for developing nations; glow from his successes may not last long, as Obama returns home to partisan Congress and international crises. MORE

Nov. 15, 2014

President Obama meets in Myanmar with pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, two years after their first meeting; acknowledges that reforms touted in 2012 have not come easily and transition is going through rough period, but urges continued pressure on military to move toward true democracy; both leaders have seen considerable softening of their political clout since their first meeting. MORE

Nov. 8, 2014

Diplomatic Memo; when President Obama travels to Beijing to meet with Pres Xi Jinping, some analysts believe China will focus on his electoral reversals rather than on the comparatively robust American recovery; analysts say Obama's best bet to counter doubts about his standing will be to move quickly on projects that reinforce American's presence in region, like proposed trade deal. MORE

Oct. 29, 2014

Thomas L Friedman Op-Ed column draws parallels between Vietnam War and current situation in Iraq and Syria; contends that most Iraqi and Syrian Sunnis have embraced or resigned themselves to Islamic State group because they were systematically abused by pro-Shiite regimes of Syrian Pres Bashar al-Assad and Iraqi Prime Min Nuri Kamal al-Maliki; warns that challenge America faces in fighting Islamic State is its tacit alliance with Syria and Iran. MORE

Oct. 8, 2014

Increased production of oil and gas in United States is strengthening its global power and influence even as Obama administration seeks to wean world off fossil fuels; many say shift allows US to push its promotion of green energy worldwide in effort to combat climate change. MORE

Oct. 5, 2014

Thomas L Friedman Op-Ed column identifies section of dialogue from film Batman: The Dark Knight that offers a way of looking at strategy for dealing with groups like Islamic State, Boko Haram and a world of disorder. MORE

Sep. 28, 2014

Thomas L Friedman Op-Ed column contends that former Pres Ronald Reagan had much easier world to lead in his time than Pres Obama does now; compares Cold War with combating Islamic State and other extremists. MORE

Sep. 27, 2014

Great Britain, Belgium and Denmark join United States in its fight against Islamic State group, agreeing to military operations in Iraq, but refuse for now to take direct intervention in Syria; entry of British into coalition provides Washington with broader consensus for what is described as extended campaign waged without a resolution authorizing use of military force by United Nations Security Council. MORE

Sep. 25, 2014

Pres Obama adopts a tough tone in speech before the United Nations, vowing to cripple Islamic State and other militants like Khorasan Group and to levy a cost on Pres Vladimir V Putin for Russia's bullying of Ukraine; speaking like a wartime leader, Obama reaffirms his determination to work with other countries but leaves little doubt that United States will act as ultimate guarantor of international order that he says is under acute stress. MORE

Sep. 20, 2014

Sec of State John Kerry expresses gratitude at United Nations to host of allies for bolstering American-led campaign against Islamic State militants; singles out French for airstrikes and Saudi clerics for condemning the group. MORE

Sep. 18, 2014

New York Times/CBS News poll finds the public is questioning Pres Obama’s strategy for combating Islamic State in Iraq and Syria extremists; two-thirds of Americans surveyed say the country is on the wrong track and half disapprove of how Obama is doing his job, negative assessment that threatens to be substantial drag on Democrats in November elections. MORE

Sep. 14, 2014

Sec of State John Kerry receives broad assurances but no public commitments from Egypt as he continues his tour of the Middle East to try to assemble a coalition behind American campaign against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria; Obama administration seeks to enlist support from regional powers with Sunni Muslim majorities to avoid impression that United States is intervening in a sectarian war on behalf of the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government.. MORE

Sep. 13, 2014

Rep Frank R Wolf, Republican of Virginia, writes letter to president of Brookings Institution saying that prominent Washington think tanks that routinely provide Congress with policy advice should refrain from taking foreign government donations; Brookings collects about 12 percent of its annual budget from foreign governments. MORE

Sep. 12, 2014

Return of United States to Middle East three years after withdrawing from Iraq is getting a less than enthusiastic welcome among Arab nations; leading allies like Egypt, Jordan and Turkey are all finding ways to avoid specific commitments to Pres Obama's expanded effort against Islamic State in Iraq and Syria; thirteen years of chaos have deepened political and sectarian divisions and increased mistrust of US on all sides. MORE

Sep. 12, 2014

Editorial praises Obama administration for taking measured steps to reassure Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova about Russia's expansionist streak; welcomes NATO designation of Georgia and four other countries as enhanced partners of the alliance; urges United States to move more quickly to fulfill Georgia's requests for orders from American defense contractors. MORE

Sep. 10, 2014

Sens Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, along with other Republican hopefuls in 2016 presidential election, face glaring lack of foreign policy experience; some party leaders fear that resume gap could hurt their chances if world's unstable regions continue to dominate headlines until elections; candidates are trying to build their portfolios through speeches and by hiring staff members versed in world affairs. MORE

Sep. 7, 2014

New York Times investigation finds that more than dozen prominent Washington research groups have received tens of millions of dollars from foreign governments in recent years while pushing United States government officials to adopt policies that often reflect donors' priorities; money is increasingly transforming once-staid think-tank world into muscular arm of foreign governments' lobbying in Washington. MORE

Sep. 7, 2014

Thomas L Friedman Op-Ed column argues that as the United States faces foreign crises like those involving Ukraine and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, its best option is to lead from within; calls on government to lift self-imposed ban on US oil exports while introducing comprehensive tax reform; argues that reducing global price of oil would be powerful weapon in addressing both threats. MORE

Sep. 5, 2014

Diplomatic Memo; Susan E Rice, Pres Obama's national security adviser, is set to make her first visit to Beijing since taking the job 15 months ago; her agenda includes the standoff in Hong Kong, near collision of Navy surveillance plane and Chinese jet and nuclear talks with Iran. MORE

Sep. 4, 2014

News analysis; American defense initiatives in Asia, Europe and against Islamic extremists are bound to upend Pres Obama's plans for shrinking the Pentagon's budget before he leaves office in 2017; while bombing campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria does not match cost of invading and occupying Iraq, weapons and other expenses of taking on ISIS are running up bills of about $225 million per month, figure that will rise if fight is taken into Syria. MORE

Sep. 2, 2014

Chris Christie's trip to Mexico offers New Jersey governor chance to demonstrate his grasp of international affairs as he continues to consider run from presidency in 2016; Christie has been candid about his limited knowledge on foreign policy, acknowledging shortfalls on grasping its intricacies and nuances. MORE

Aug. 31, 2014

Roger Cohen Op-Ed column contends that Richard C Holbrooke should have been granted exception by United States Army and been buried at Arlington National Cemetery, in light of his diplomatic service; laments that Holbrooke's experience and belief in American power and its capacity for good are sorely needed now to deal with crises around the world. MORE

Aug. 30, 2014

Pres Obama attempts, in light of disturbing global events, to reassure Americans that world has always been 'messy' and that events, while more widely publicized, are not more serious than those of past; contends that United States will weather difficulties and urges Americans to remain strong and confident. MORE

Aug. 29, 2014

Pres Obama confronts two volatile international crises with restraint: says he will not yet authorize airstrikes against Islamic extremists in Syria, and plays down latest escalation of Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine; with tensions rising in Europe and Middle East, Obama emphasizes military response will not resolve either situation and pledges to build international coalitions to grapple with them. MORE

Aug. 26, 2014

Egypt and United Arab Emirates have secretly launched airstrikes against Islamist-allied militias battling for control of Tripoli, Libya, in escalation of regional power struggle set off by Arab Spring revolts; United States is caught by surprise as both allies and military partners act without informing Washington, leaving Obama administration on the sidelines. MORE

Aug. 24, 2014

Thomas L Friedman Op-Ed column highlights argument made by Dov Seidman in book How, namely that inequality of freedom is causing instability and chaos around the world; warns preserving and expanding world of sustainable order is the leadership challenge for America and its allies of this era. MORE

Aug. 19, 2014

Roger Cohen Op-Ed column considers whether the United States has entered a period of decline in terms of its global influence; notes while Europeans are critical of American foreign policy, spying and other issues, they remain enthusiastic about its cultural and technological products; argues that a similar ambivalence exists at home, as Americans demand an end to military debacles abroad even as they criticize Pres Obama's caution about the dangers of overreach. MORE

Aug. 16, 2014

News analysis; Pres Obama, facing frustration over turmoil in places like Syria, Iraq and Ukraine, has garnered additional criticism for stressing the limits of American power and the office of the chief executive in particular; some of his comments appear as an attempt to excuse his failures and inaction. MORE

Aug. 14, 2014

Secretary of State John Kerry says that Pres Obama has asked him to redouble his diplomatic efforts in Asia and the Pacific through the remainder of his administration. MORE

Aug. 14, 2014

Gail Collins Op-Ed column examines aftermath of Hillary Clinton interview in The Atlantic in which she criticized Pres Obama's foreign policies; applauds interview for bringing up issues that deserve further discussion, and calls for more in-depth examination ahead of 2016 elections, particularly in regard to Clinton's stance; notes Clinton seems to have backed away from conflict and has made up with Obama. MORE

Aug. 13, 2014

Hillary Clinton calls Pres Obama to assure him that comments she made in magazine interview criticizing some foreign policy decisions were not intended 'to attack him, his policies or his leadership.' MORE

Aug. 13, 2014

Maureen Dowd Op-Ed column criticizes Hillary Clinton for critical remarks she made in an interview about Pres Obama's foreign policy; contends remarks were calculated attempt to show she was tough and that she is not afraid to use power. MORE

Aug. 12, 2014

Diplomatic Memo; former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's comments criticizing not just Pres Obama's refusal to aid rebels in Syria, but also his shorthand description of his entire foreign policy, shatters image of unity she and Pres Obama had cultivated; situation suggests that Clinton is more ready to distinguish her views from Obama's in advance of possible presidential campaign in 2016. MORE

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The division caused by the Israeli prime minister’s coming speech to Congress is keenly felt among the Jewish members of Congress — all but one of them Democratic — and seems to reflect the dismay of American Jews.